Facility searching device, facility searching method, and tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program

ABSTRACT

A facility searching method is provided, including preparing a facility DB storing facility information, converting a received voice data input constituting a voice query into data in a predetermined format, generating a query executable in a facility search based on the converted data, executing the facility search corresponding to the generated query by referencing the facility DB, controlling the facility search to execute a search at a preset search execution timing, and outputting a search result of a searched facility, further including: preparing a search query history DB for storing searched queries in association with a search execution time, specifying a zeroth query searched before the generated query by referencing the search query history DB, determining whether the generated query matches the zeroth query, setting the facility search to an execution waiting state when determining, and canceling the execution waiting state when a new voice query input is received.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT Application No.PCT/JP2016/081775, having a filing date of Oct. 26, 2016, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to a facility searching device, a facilitysearching method, a computer program, and a recording medium storing acomputer program.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, with the spread of the Internet and mobile terminaldevices, destination searching using a mobile terminal device such as acar navigation device or a smartphone is performed in daily life. Thisdestination searching is generally performed by inputting a place nameor a facility name of a destination. Then, in a general search system ina car navigation device, for a destination, for example, in a searchquery entered to search for facilities, a series of integral characterstrings constituting the search query is compared with a characterstring constituting a keyword such as a facility name stored in a searchdatabase such as a facility database, and a search for facilitiescorresponding to the search query is performed based on whether thereis, for example, an exact match, a forward match, or a partial match.

Furthermore, in inputting search queries to searching devices, devicesthat can receive voice input such as by using a microphone are becomingcommon.

SUMMARY

An aspect relates to enabling improved search-user convenience in usingvoice input for facility searching with a car navigation device. As aresult, the following was discovered.

When searching for “hakataramen,” initially, a search query of“hakataramen” is input by voice and after conducting a facility search,there are cases in which, for example, it is desired to further narrowdown the search results such as for “hakataramen” located in a specificarea such as “nakasu.” In such a case, “hakataramen” is re-inputfollowed by a silent interval indicating delimitation before inputting“nakasu,” but there are cases in which this silent interval isrecognized as completion of the search query input and the search for“hakataramen” might be conducted again. However, when the re-inputsearch query matches the original search query, the search user oftenhas not completed the input of the search query and has the intention ofentering an additional search query.

In view of this situation, in the case of performing facility searchingby voice input, the present inventors have conceived to control so that,if a search query in progress matches a search query executed before thesearch query in progress, instead of the conventional control ofexecuting a search after a predetermined silent interval elapses, searchexecution is set to a waiting state until a subsequent voice input isreceived, and the waiting state is cancelled when the subsequent voiceinput is received. By controlling search execution timing in thismanner, it is possible to reflect the intention of the search user, whowishes to add a search query to narrow down the executed search results,thus enabling improvements in convenience for the search user.

In view of the above problems, a first aspect of the present inventionis defined as follows. That is,

a facility searching device including a facility database for storinginformation about facilities, an input receiving unit for receiving aninput of a voice query, a format converting unit for converting voicedata constituting a voice query received as the input into data in apredetermined format, a first generating unit for generating anexecution query, which is executable in a following facility searchingunit, based on the converted data, the facility searching unit forexecuting a search for facilities corresponding to the generatedexecution query by referencing the facility database, a search executioncontrol unit for controlling the facility searching unit to execute asearch at a preset search execution timing, and a search result outputunit for outputting a searched facility, further comprising:a search query history database for storing the searched execution queryin association with a search execution time;a specifying unit for specifying a zeroth execution query searchedbefore a first execution query which is the generated execution query byreferencing the search query history database; anda determining unit for performing a determination as to whether thefirst execution query matches the zeroth execution query;wherein, the search execution control unit sets the search of thefacility searching unit to an execution waiting state when the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query as a result of thedetermination, and cancels the execution waiting state when the inputreceiving unit receives an input of a new voice query.

According to such a facility searching device defined in the firstaspect in which the input voice query is converted into data in thepredetermined format before generating the execution query executable inthe facility search, and the facility searching device executes thefacility search at the preset search execution timing based on thegenerated execution query, the first execution query, which is thegenerated execution query, is compared with the zeroth execution queryexecuted before the first execution query; in the case of both matching,the preset search execution timing is cancelled and the facility searchto be executed is set to the execution waiting state; when an input of anew voice query is received, the execution waiting state is cancelled.

When the execution waiting state is cancelled, the facility search isexecuted with the preset search execution timing. In such a case of anexecution query input in progress matching a previously searchedexecution query, the facility search is set to the execution waitingstate until a next input of a voice query is received, so that incontrast with the conventional situation, execution of a searchequivalent to a previously executed search is avoided, thus enablingimprovements in search user convenience.

The predetermined format may be a text format (a second aspect). Becausemost of the data stored in the facility database and the search queryhistory database are stored in a text format, converting the voice queryinto the text format to enable comparison between these data ispreferable.

The first generating unit may generate a plurality of the executionqueries in consideration of speech recognition fluctuation based on theconverted data (a third aspect). The execution query considering speechrecognition fluctuation may be generated in consideration of soundsimilarities such as the presence or absence of voiced consonants,plosives, and long vowels or similarity in vowel sounds, among others.Furthermore, in the case of the execution query being in English, speechrecognition fluctuation character strings may be created based onsimilarity in pronunciation such as “r” and “l,” “m” and “n,” “s,” “th,”and “sh,” “u” and “ar,” and “ea” and “ee,” among others. By generatingan execution query in consideration of speech recognition fluctuation,it is possible to search for facilities more suited to the actualsituation.

The determining unit may perform a determination as to whether the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query in units of syllablesor words (a fourth aspect).

Here, syllable unit means a unit of sectioning based on vowels, and is,for example, sectioned in units of independent vowels andconsonant/vowel combinations. Word unit means, for example, a unit of aword recognized by referencing a dictionary database in which each wordis recorded.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. That is,a facility searching method including a first storing step of storinginformation in a facility database for storing information aboutfacilities, an input receiving step of receiving an input of a voicequery, a format converting step of converting voice data constituting avoice query received as the input into data in a predetermined format, afirst generating step of generating an execution query, which isexecutable in a following facility searching step, based on theconverted data, the facility searching step of executing a search forfacilities corresponding to the generated execution query by referencingthe facility database, a search execution control step of controllingexecution of the search in the facility searching step at a presetsearch execution timing, and a search result output step of outputting asearched facility, further comprising:

a second storing step of storing the searched execution query inassociation with a search execution time in a search query historydatabase;a specifying step of specifying a zeroth execution query searched beforea first execution query which is the generated execution query byreferencing the search query history database with a specifying unit;anda determining step of performing a determination as to whether the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query with a determiningunit;wherein, the search execution control step comprises setting the searchof the facility searching step into an execution waiting state when thefirst execution query matches the zeroth execution query as a result ofthe determination, and cancelling the execution waiting state when theinput receiving step receives an input of a new voice query.

The effect of the fifth aspect of the present invention as so defined isequivalent with that of the first aspect.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. That is,in the method of the fifth aspect, the predetermined format is a textformat.

The effect of the sixth aspect of the present invention as so defined isequivalent with that of the second aspect.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. Thatis, in the method defined in the fifth or sixth aspect, the firstgenerating step comprises generating a plurality of the executionqueries in consideration of speech recognition fluctuation based on theconverted data.

The effect of the seventh aspect of the present invention as so definedis equivalent with that of the third aspect.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. Thatis, in the method defined in the fifth to seventh aspects, thedetermining step comprises performing a determination as to whether thefirst execution query matches the zeroth execution query in units ofsyllables or words.

The effect of the eight aspect of the present invention as so defined isequivalent with that of the fourth aspect.

Furthermore, a ninth aspect of the present invention is defined asfollows. That is, a computer program configured to cause a computer tofunction as first storing means for storing information about facilitiesin a facility database, input receiving means for receiving an input ofa voice query, format converting means for converting voice dataconstituting a voice query received by the input receiving means into apredetermined format, first generating means for generating an executionquery, which is executable by a following facility searching means,based on the converted data, the facility searching means for executinga search corresponding to the generated execution query by referencingthe facility database, search execution control means for controllingthe facility searching means to execute a search at a preset searchexecution timing, and search result output means for outputting asearched facility;

the computer program further configured to cause the computer tofunction as:second storing means for storing the searched execution query inassociation with a search execution time in a search query historydatabase;specifying means for specifying a zeroth execution query searched beforea first execution query which is the generated execution query byreferencing the search query history database; anddetermining means for performing a determination as to whether the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query;wherein, the search execution controlling means sets the search of thefacility searching means to an execution waiting state when the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query as a result ofdetermination, and cancels the execution waiting state when an input ofa new voice query is received by the input receiving means.

The effect of the ninth aspect of the present invention as so defined isequivalent with that of the first aspect.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. That is,in the computer program defined in the ninth aspect, the predeterminedformat is a text format. The effect of the tenth aspect of the presentinvention as so defined is equivalent with that of the second aspect.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. Thatis, in the computer program defined in the ninth or tenth aspect, thefirst generating means generates a plurality of the execution queries inconsideration of speech recognition fluctuation based on the converteddata.

The effect of the eleventh aspect of the present invention as so definedis equivalent with that of the third aspect.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is defined as follows. Thatis, in the computer program defined in the ninth to eleventh aspect, thedetermining means performs a determination as to whether the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query in units of syllablesor words.

The effect of the twelfth aspect of the present invention as so definedis equivalent with that of the fourth aspect.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is defined as a recordingmedium on which the computer program according to any one of the ninthto twelfth aspects is recorded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference tothe following figures, wherein like designations denote like members,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facilitysearching device, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram illustrating one example of a searchquery history table stored in a search query history database and anexplanatory diagram illustrating one example of a search table stored ina facility database, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram illustrating one example of a searchtable stored in a facility database, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one example of an operation of afacility searching device, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facilitysearching device, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigationdevice, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A facility searching device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the facility searching device1. Tables of FIG. 2 are used for explanation as appropriate hereinbelow.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the facility searching device 1 includes asearch query history database 3, a facility database 5, an inputreceiving unit 7, a format converting unit 9, a first generating unit11, a specifying unit 13, a determining unit 15, a search executioncontrol unit 17, a facility searching unit 19, and a search resultoutput unit 20.

In the following example, the search user executes a facility search(zeroth search) on an execution query “hakataramen” for hakataramenstores and then attempts another search (first search) to narrow downthe obtained search results to hakataramen restaurants located innakasu.

In the search query history database 3, an execution query searched bythe facility searching unit 19 to be described below is stored inassociation with a search execution date and time. In the search queryhistory database 3, for example, a search query history table is stored.An example of a data structure of the search query history table isshown in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, the search query history tablehas, for example, a search execution date and time column, and anexecution query column. The date and time at which the search wasexecuted is stored in the search execution date and time column. In theexecution query column, execution queries corresponding to the searchexecution are stored. In this example, for the zeroth search alreadyexecuted, the execution query “hakataramen” is stored in associationwith the search execution date and time of 2016-10-5 10:00. In addition,as a result of the zeroth search, the facilities “hakata ramen nagono,”“hakata ramen houta,” and “mendokoro geki nakasu” in a facility tableshown in FIG. 2B are retrieved.

Information on facilities is stored in the facility database 5. In thefacility database 5, for example, a facility table is stored. An exampleof the data structure of the facility table is shown in FIG. 2B. Asshown in FIG. 2B, the facility table has, for example, a facility IDcolumn, a facility name column, a facility address column, and afacility genre column. In the facility ID column, identificationinformation for uniquely identifying a facility is stored. In thefacility name column, names of facilities such as those of amusementparks, theme parks, restaurants, hospitals, stations, and scenic spots,among others, are stored. In the facility address column, the address ofthe facility is stored. In the facility genre column, genres such asamusement park, theme park, restaurant, hospital, station, and scenicspot to which facilities belong are stored. The facility genre is notlimited to being an upper-level genre such as restaurant but may also bea mid-level or lower-level genre. For example, upper-level genres suchas “restaurant” can contain mid-level genres such as “beef bowlrestaurant,” “ramen restaurant,” and “cafe” and these mid-level genressuch as “ramen restaurant” can contain lower-level genres such as“hakata ramen,” “taiwan ramen,” and “tsukemen.” As other informationstored in the facility table, information expressing each information inkatakana or in alphabet is preferably associated to facilitatecomparison with the execution query generated by the first generatingunit 11.

The input receiving unit 7 receives an input of a voice query by theuser. The voice query is voice data constituting, for example, words orphrases that the user inputs by voice when searching, and is also voicedata constituting requests and inquiries for search databases such assearch conditions. The voice data can be received, for example, by usingan input unit such as a microphone provided in a navigation deviceprovided with the facility searching device 1. For example, a voiceinput such as “ha,” “ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n” is received in orderas a voice query.

The format converting unit 9 converts the voice data constituting thevoice query received by the input receiving unit 7 into data in apredetermined format. Examples of data in the predetermined formatinclude digital data such as text data. Examples of the text datainclude hiragana, katakana, alphabet, numbers, and symbols, amongothers, which can be used individually or in a combination of two ormore. The format converting unit 9 converts voice data into text data byvoice processing such as A/D conversion (analog-to-digital conversion).In this example, for example, “ha” of the voice query is converted intotext data “ha.” The input receiving unit 7 also converts the receivedinput following “ha” of the voice query, that is, “ka,” “ta,” “ra,”“me,” and “n” into text data such as “ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n”(for example, in katakana).

The first generating unit 11 generates an execution query executable bythe facility searching unit 19 based on the data converted by the formatconverting unit 9. For example, the first generating unit 11 can simplyconcatenate the text data “ha,” “ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n”converted by the format converting unit 9 to generate an execution query“hakataramen.” As another example, according to need, it is alsopossible to convert the concatenated text data to kanji (Chinesecharacters) together with hiragana to generate, for example,“HAKATAramen” as an execution query. The execution query may also begenerated by decomposing the concatenated text into constituent wordscomprising decomposed morphemes and combining the constituent words witha space, character, or symbol representing a delimiter between theconstituent words. For example, by decomposing “hakataramen” or“HAKATAramen” by a morphological analysis method, among other methods,and adding a space between the constituent words “hakata” and “ramen” asdecomposed morphemes, it is possible to generate an execution queryrepresentable as “hakata [space] ramen.” Examples of delimiter symbolsinclude commas, hyphens, underscores, slashes, semicolons, and plusses,among others. Herein, morpheme analysis means dividing a sentence intomorphemes, which are the smallest meaningful unit of a language,followed by determining a part of speech for each morpheme by using amorpheme dictionary, for example, to which part-of-speech information isassociated. When the input receiving unit 7 receives an input of asilent interval, a delimiter such as a space may be added to a portioncorresponding to the silent interval as described above. For example,when a silent interval is included between “hakataramen” and “nakasu,”an execution query “hakataramen [space] nakasu” can be generated.

The specifying unit 13 references the search query history database 3 tospecify a zeroth execution query searched before a first execution querywhich is the execution query generated by the first generating unit 11.While the zeroth execution query is not particularly limited as long asthe zeroth execution query is searched before the first execution query,for example, it is possible to specify the query as the execution query“hakataramen” searched immediately before the first execution query. Asanother example, any of the execution queries in the same search sessionas the first execution query can be identified as the zeroth executionquery. An example of the zeroth execution query which is in the samesearch session as the first execution query is an execution query beingany of the execution queries searched within a predetermined timepreceding the search time of the first execution query. Also, searchesperformed in the period from turning on to turning off the ignition of avehicle may be considered to be in the same session. In this example,the specifying unit 13 can specify the execution query “hakataramen”having a search date and time of 2016-10-5 10:00 searched immediatelybefore the first execution query “hakataramen” generated by the firstgenerating unit 11 as the zeroth execution query.

The determining unit 15 determines whether the first execution querygenerated by the first generating unit 11 matches the zeroth executionquery specified by the specifying unit 13. For example, the determiningunit 15 compares the text data of the first execution query with thetext data of the zeroth execution query, and if there is a perfectmatch, can determine that they “match.” As another example, with respectto the zeroth execution query, speech recognition fluctuation termsconsidering fluctuations in speech recognition are created and when amatch is made with one of the text data of the created speechrecognition fluctuation terms, the first execution query and the zerothexecution query may be determined to “match.” In this example, since thefirst execution query “hakataramen” and the zeroth execution query“hakataramen” are perfectly matched, a determination result indicating“match” is sent to a search execution control unit 17 described below.

The search execution control unit 17 controls the search executiontiming of the facility searching unit 19, which will be described below,based on the determination result of the determining unit 15. That is,the search execution control unit 17 controls to cancel a conventionalfirst search execution timing and switch to a second search executiontiming of the present invention. In particular, when the determiningunit 15 determines that the first execution query and the zerothexecution query do not match each other, as in conventional controls,the search execution control unit 17 controls so that the search by thefacility searching unit 19 is executed at a preset search executiontiming as the first search execution timing. An example of aconventional control is a search execution timing in which, after theinput receiving unit 7 receives the input of the last sound data (“n” inthe example above) and a predetermined silent interval (such as onesecond) is received, a search is executed. In contrast, when thedetermining unit 15 determines that the first execution query matchesthe zeroth execution query, the search execution control unit 17controls the search execution timing (second search execution timing) soas to set the search of the facility searching unit 19 to an executionwaiting state and cancel the execution waiting state when the inputreceiving unit 7 receives new voice query input. Thus, the searchexecution control unit 17 controls to set execution of the search to awaiting state without counting the predetermined silent interval afterthe input receiving unit 7 receives the last voice data input (forexample, the “n” in “hakataramen”) and to cancel the execution waitingstate when the input receiving unit 7 receives an input of a new voicequery (for example, “na” in “nakasu”) so that a search is executed whena predetermined silent interval has elapsed after receiving the lastvoice input (for example, “su” in “nakasu”) of the new voice query.

In this example, in the case of the input receiving unit 7 receiving aninput of a new voice query “nakasu” which the format converting unit 9converts into text data “nakasu,” and the first generating unit 11generates “hakataramen [space] nakasu” with the added text data“nakasu,” as the first execution query. Then, because there is no zerothexecution query matching the first execution query “hakataramen [space]nakasu,” in the search query history database 3, the search executioncontrol unit 17 controls so that the facility searching unit 19 executesthe search with the first search execution timing, that is, after theinput receiving unit 7 receives an input of a predetermined silentinterval, the facility searching unit 19 executes a search.Specifically, control is provided so that the search is executed whenthe silent interval elapses after receiving the input of the last “su”of the new voice query.

The facility searching unit 19 references the facility database 5 andexecutes a facility search corresponding to the first execution querygenerated by the first generating unit 11. The method of the search isnot particularly limited, and facilities can be searched by a standardmethod. For example, by comparing the character strings constituting theexecution query with the character strings constituting keywords such asfacility name, facility address, and facility genre, among others,stored in the facility database, a facility corresponding to theexecution query can be searched for by whether there is, for example, aperfect match, a forward match, or a partial match. In this example, thefacility searching unit 19 can execute the facility search based on thefirst execution query finally generated by the first generating unit 11,for example “hakataramen [space] nakasu.” In this example, in thefacility table shown in FIG. 2 (B), facilities including “hakataramen”and “nakasu” are searched for by any of facility name, facility address,and facility genre. Specifically, examples of search results include afacility “HAKATAramenHOUTA” having “HAKATAramen(hakataramen)” in thefacility name and “NAKASU(nakasu)” in the facility address and anotherfacility “MENdokoroGEKINAKASUTEN” having “NAKASU(nakasu)” in thefacility name and facility address as well as “HAKATAramen(hakataramen)”in the facility genre. In addition, a general score may be associatedwith facilities of the search result for determining an output rankingaccording to a standard method. For example, high general scores can beassigned to facilities according to degree of matching in a perfectmatch, a forward match, or a partial match, as well as according to thelength of the matched character string.

The search result output unit 20 outputs facilities retrieved by thefacility searching unit 19.

An example of an operation of the device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3.

First, in step 1, the input receiving unit 7 receives an input of avoice query “ha” by the user. Subsequently, inputs of the voice query“ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n” are received.

In step 3, the format converting unit 9 converts the voice data “ha” ofthe voice query received in step 1 into the text data “ha.”Subsequently, the voice data “ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n” areconverted into text data “ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n.”

In step 5, the first generating unit 11 concatenates the text data “ha,”“ka,” “ta,” “ra,” “me,” and “n” converted in step 3 to generate thefirst execution query “hakataramen.”

In step 7, the specifying unit 13 references the search query historydatabase 3 to specify the zeroth execution query “hakataramen” searchedimmediately before the first execution query “hakataramen” generated instep 5.

In step 9, the determining unit 15 performs a determination as towhether the first execution query “hakataramen” generated in step 5matches the zeroth execution query “hakataramen” specified in step 7.When both match (step 11: Yes), the process proceeds to step 13.

In step 13, the search execution control unit 17 controls to cancel thenormal search execution timing, and set the search of the facilitysearching unit 19 to the execution waiting state. Then, while in theexecution waiting state and when receiving the input of a new voicequery “nakasu” (step 15: Yes), the first generating unit 11 generates anew first execution query “hakataramen [space] nakasu” (step 17) basedon the voice query of step 15, and the search execution control unit 17cancels the execution waiting state of step 13 (step 19).

In step 21, after the input receiving unit 7 receives an input of thepredetermined silent interval, the facility searching unit 19 executes afacility search based on the first execution query. As the firstexecution query used in step 21, in the case of a new first executionquery being generated in step 17, the first execution query generated instep 17 is used, and in the case of a new first execution query beingnot generated in step 17 (step 11: No or step 15: No), the firstexecution query generated in step 5 is used.

In step 23, the search result output unit 20 outputs the facilityretrieved in step 21.

FIG. 4 illustrates a facility searching device 21 according to anotherembodiment. In FIG. 4, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denotedby the same reference signs, and a description thereof will be partiallyomitted.

The facility searching device 21 illustrated in FIG. 4 can take speechrecognition fluctuation into consideration for the zeroth executionquery stored in the search query history database 3. Thus, with respectto the device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 21 further comprises acreating unit 25, and is provided with a search query history database23 and a determining unit 27 instead of the search query historydatabase 3 and the determining unit 15.

As in the search query history database 3, the search query historydatabase 23 stores execution queries executed by the facility searchingunit 19 and additionally stores speech recognition fluctuation characterstrings created by the creating unit 25 described below in associationwith the execution query.

The creating unit 25 references the search query history database 23 andcreates speech recognition fluctuation character strings inconsideration of speech recognition fluctuation of the zeroth executionquery stored in the search query history database 23. The creationmethod is without particular limitation and creation may, for example,be based on the presence or absence of voiced consonants, plosives, longvowels, and similarity in vowel sounds, among others. For example, withrespect to a zeroth execution query “hakataramen,” speech recognitionfluctuation character strings of “hagataramen,” “hakatara'men,” and“hakataraamen,” among others, can be created. The created speechrecognition fluctuation character strings are stored in the search queryhistory database 23 in association with the zeroth execution query.

The determining unit 27 performs a determination as to whether the firstexecution query generated by the first generating unit 11 matches thezeroth execution query specified by the specifying unit 13 or any of thevoice recognition fluctuation character strings associated with thezeroth execution query. This determination method can be performed bythe same methods as in the determining unit 15. That is, a completematch between a zeroth execution query or a speech recognitionfluctuation character string and the text data of the first executionquery can be used to determine a “match” between the first executionquery and the zeroth execution query. Specifically, for the zerothexecution query “hakataramen,” when the first execution query is“hakataraamen,” there is no exact match with the zeroth execution query“hakataramen”; however, because there is a perfect match with the voicerecognition fluctuation character string “hakataraamen,” the determiningunit 27 determines a “match.”

In this example, when the input receiving unit 7 subsequently receivesthe input of “nakasu,” the first generating unit 11 can generate thefirst execution query “hakataraamen [space] nakasu.”

As described above, in the case of having the data of the speechrecognition fluctuation character strings, the facility searching unit19 may execute the search in consideration of the speech recognitionfluctuation character string associated with the execution query whenreferencing the facility database 5 to search for facilities. In thiscase, in addition to facilities having “hakataraamen” in the firstexecution query “hakataraamen [space] nakasu,” in, for example, thefacility name, facilities having “hakataramen,” which is a speechrecognition fluctuation character string for “hakataraamen,” in, forexample, the facility name are retrieved as well.

FIG. 5 shows a navigation device 51 of an example. In FIG. 5, the sameelements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference signs, anda description thereof will be partially omitted.

In addition to each element constituting the facility searching device 1illustrated in FIG. 1, that is, the search query history database 3, thefacility database 5, the input receiving unit 7, the format convertingunit 9, the first generating unit 11, the specifying unit 13, thedetermining unit 15, the search execution control unit 17, the facilitysearching unit 19, and the search result output unit 20, a navigationdevice 51 further comprises a control unit 510, a memory unit 511, aninput unit 512, an output unit 513, an interface unit 514, and a currentposition specifying unit 515.

The control unit 510 is a computer device including a CPU and a buffermemory, among other devices, and controls other elements constitutingthe navigation device 51.

A computer program is stored in the memory unit 511, and this computerprogram is loaded into the control unit 510 which is a computer deviceto enable functioning thereof. The computer program can be stored to amemory device provided in the navigation device such as an internal harddisk or built-in memory or to a storage medium which can be replaced inthe navigation device such as SD Card (registered trademark) memory, amemory card, a memory stick, smart media, CompactFlash (registeredtrademark), or a DVD, among other general-purpose mediums.

The input unit 512 is used, for example, when inputting user commands.In particular, a voice input device such as a microphone enabling voiceinput of an execution query can be used. Furthermore, examples of theinput unit 512 which can be used for search result selection, amongother purposes, include keyboards as well as pointing devices such asmouse input devices, light pens, and touch panels which interact withdisplay contents.

The output unit 513 includes a display which displays an input screen,search results, and detailed facility information. In addition to theinformation output by the output unit 513, a search screen, a map, aposition of a vehicle specified by the current position specifying unit,and a guide route which are output by general navigation devices aredisplayed. The output unit 513 includes a search result output unit 20.Functioning of the search result output unit 20 is as described above.

The interface unit 514 connects the navigation device 51 to, forexample, a wireless network.

The current position specifying unit 515 specifies current positioninformation of the navigation device 51 such as by using a GPS device ora gyroscope device. Furthermore, it is possible to specify the currenttime.

As another example, the case in which the input receiving unit 7receives voice input in English in the facility searching device 1 ofFIG. 1 will be described. In this example, the search user executes afacility search (zeroth search) for a pizza store “California PizzaKitchen” and then attempts another search (first search) to furthernarrow down the obtained search results to “California Pizza Kitchen”located in San Diego. Thus, in the search query history database 3, anexecution query “California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” is alreadyrecorded in association with a search execution date and time as apreviously executed zeroth search.

The input receiving unit 7 receives an input of a voice query of“CaliforniaPizzaKitchen” as a voice query by the user.

The format converting unit 9 converts the voice query“CaliforniaPizzaKitchen” received by the input receiving unit 7 intotext data. That is, the voice query is converted into text datarepresentable as “CaliforniaPizzaKitchen.”

Based on the text data “CaliforniaPizzaKitchen” converted by the formatconverting unit 9, the first generating unit 11 generates a firstexecution query that is executable as a search by the facility searchingunit 19. In this case, by decomposing the text data“CaliforniaPizzaKitchen” into each constituent word “California,”“Pizza,” and “Kitchen” by referencing, for example, a word dictionary,inserting spaces between constituent words, and concatenating,“California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” is generated as the firstexecution query.

The specifying unit 13 references the search query history database 3 tospecify “California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” as the zerothexecution query searched immediately before the first execution query“California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” generated by the firstgenerating unit 11.

The determining unit 15 determines whether the first execution query“California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” generated by the firstgenerating unit 11 matches the zeroth execution query “California[space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” specified by the specifying unit 13. Inthis example, because the first execution query “California [space]Pizza [space] Kitchen” matches the zeroth execution query “California[space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” in word order, it can be determined thatthey match.

Based on a determination of the determining unit 15 that the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query, the search executioncontrol unit 17 cancels the conventional first search execution timingand switches to the second search execution timing. That is, the searchexecution control unit 17 switches to the second search execution timingwhich sets the search of the facility searching unit 19 to an executionwaiting state and cancels the execution waiting state when the inputreceiving unit 7 receives input of a new voice query. Specifically,after receiving the input of the last sound of the voice query“CaliforniaPizzaKitchen,” search execution is set to a waiting statewithout counting the predetermined silent interval. Thereafter, when theinput receiving unit 7 receives the input of the first sound of a newvoice query “SanDiego,” the execution waiting state of the second searchexecution timing is cancelled. That is, upon receiving the input of thenew voice query “SanDiego,” when a predetermined silent interval elapsesafter receiving the input of the new voice query, execution of thesearch is switched to the first search execution timing.

In this example, the input of the new voice query “SanDiego,” afterbeing received, is converted by the format converting unit 9 into thetext data “SanDiego”; the first generating unit 11 adds “SanDiego” tothe previously generated “California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen” andgenerates “California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen [space] SanDiego” asthe first execution query. Then, the determining unit 15 compares thezeroth search execution query “California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen”previously specified by the specifying unit 13 with the first executionquery “California [space] Pizza [space] Kitchen [space] SanDiego” newlygenerated by the first generating unit 11 and determines whether bothmatch. While both respectively match in word order in the words“California,” “Pizza,” and “Kitchen,” due to differing in one part, theword “SanDiego,” they are determined to be non-matching. When thedetermining unit 15 determines a non-match, the search execution controlunit 17 does not switch the search execution timing to the second searchexecution timing, and the facility searching unit 19 performs thefacility search at the first search execution timing. Thus, the facilitysearching unit 19 receives the input of the last sound of the new voicequery “SanDiego” and then executes the facility search after apredetermined silent interval has elapsed.

Furthermore, in the case of the zeroth execution query being in Englishas above, in addition to creating speech recognition fluctuationcharacter strings based on similarity of sounds such as the absence orpresence of voiced consonants, plosives, long vowels or similarity invowel sounds, the creating unit 25 of the facility searching device 21illustrated in FIG. 4 can create speech recognition fluctuationcharacter strings based on similarity in pronunciation such as “r” and“l,” “m” and “n,” “s,” “th,” and “sh,” “u” and “ar,” and “ea” and “ee,”among others. Examples include voice recognition fluctuation characterstrings such as “desert” for “dessert,” “dinning” for “dining,” and“site” and “cite” for “sight.”

Although embodiments and examples of the present invention are describedabove, two or more embodiments (examples) may be combined to implementthe present invention. Furthermore, one embodiment (example) may bepartly implemented. Moreover, two or more of these embodiments(examples) may be combined partially to implement the present invention.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form ofpreferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood thatnumerous additional modifications and variations could be made theretowithout departing from the scope of the invention.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or“an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and“comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a“unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit ormodule.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1, 21 facility searching device3, 23 search query history database (search query history DB)5 facility database (facility DB)7 input receiving unit9 format converting unit11 first generating unit13 specifying unit15, 27 determining unit17 search execution control unit19 facility searching unit20 search result output unit25 creating unit

1. A facility searching device including a facility database for storinginformation about facilities, an input receiving unit for receiving aninput of a voice query, a format converting unit for converting voicedata constituting a voice query received as the input into data in apredetermined format, a first generating unit for generating anexecution query, which is executable in a following facility searchingunit, based on the converted data, the facility searching unit forexecuting a search for facilities corresponding to the generatedexecution query by referencing the facility database, a search executioncontrol unit for controlling the facility searching unit to execute asearch at a preset search execution timing, and a search result outputunit for outputting a searched facility, further comprising: a searchquery history database for storing the searched execution query inassociation with a search execution time; a specifying unit forspecifying a zeroth execution query searched before a first executionquery which is the generated execution query by referencing the searchquery history database; and a determining unit for performing adetermination as to whether the first execution query matches the zerothexecution query; wherein, the search execution control unit sets thesearch of the facility searching unit to an execution waiting state whenthe first execution query matches the zeroth execution query as a resultof the determination, and cancels the execution waiting state when theinput receiving unit receives an input of a new voice query.
 2. Thefacility searching device according to claim 1, wherein thepredetermined format is a text format.
 3. The facility searching deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first generating unit generates aplurality of the execution queries in consideration of speechrecognition fluctuation based on the converted data.
 4. The facilitysearching device according to claim 1, wherein the determining unitperforms a determination as to whether the first execution query matchesthe zeroth execution query in units of syllables or words.
 5. A facilitysearching method including a first storing step of storing informationfor storing information about facilities in a facility database, aninput receiving step of receiving an input of a voice query, a formatconverting step of converting voice data constituting a voice queryreceived as the input into data in a predetermined format, a firstgenerating step of generating an execution query, which is executable ina following facility searching step, based on the converted data, thefacility searching step of executing a search for facilitiescorresponding to the generated execution query by referencing thefacility database, a search execution control step of controllingexecution of the search in the facility searching step at a presetsearch execution timing, and a search result output step of outputting asearched facility, further comprising: a second storing step of storingthe searched execution query in association with a search execution timein a search query history database; a specifying step of specifying azeroth execution query searched before a first execution query which isthe generated execution query by referencing the search query historydatabase; and a determining step of performing a determination as towhether the first execution query matches the zeroth execution query;wherein, the search execution control step comprises setting the searchof the facility searching step into an execution waiting state when thefirst execution query matches the zeroth execution query as a result ofthe determination, and cancelling the execution waiting state when theinput receiving step receives an input of a new voice query.
 6. Thefacility searching method according to claim 5, wherein thepredetermined format is a text format.
 7. The facility searching methodaccording to claim 5, wherein the first generating step comprisesgenerating a plurality of the execution queries in consideration ofspeech recognition fluctuation based on the converted data.
 8. Thefacility searching method according to claim 5, wherein the determiningstep comprises performing a determination as to whether the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query in units of syllablesor words.
 9. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumthat contains a computer program configured to cause a computer tofunction as first storing means for storing information about facilitiesin a facility database, input receiving means for receiving an input ofa voice query, format converting means for converting voice dataconstituting a voice query received by the input receiving means into apredetermined format, first generating means for generating an executionquery, which is executable by a following facility searching means,based on the converted data, the facility searching means for executinga search corresponding to the generated execution query by referencingthe facility database, search execution control means for controllingthe facility searching means to execute a search at a preset searchexecution timing, and search result output means for outputting asearched facility; the computer program further configured to cause thecomputer to function as: second storing means for storing the searchedexecution query in association with a search execution time in a searchquery history database; specifying means for specifying a zerothexecution query searched before a first execution query which is thegenerated execution query by referencing the search query historydatabase; and determining means for performing a determination as towhether the first execution query matches the zeroth execution query;wherein, the search execution controlling means sets the search of thefacility searching means to an execution waiting state when the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query as a result ofdetermination, and cancels the execution waiting state when the inputreceiving means receives an input of a new voice query.
 10. The storagemedium according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined format is a textformat.
 11. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the firstgenerating means generates a plurality of the execution queries inconsideration of speech recognition fluctuation based on the converteddata.
 12. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein thedetermining means performs a determination as to whether the firstexecution query matches the zeroth execution query in units of syllablesor words.
 13. (canceled)